By Kathleen Acuff

The Los Altos Hills City Council unanimously approved an agreement with Toeniskoetter & Breeding Inc. by which TBI will act as construction manager for the town hall project for approximately $50,000 less than the original contract. Councilman Breene Kerr reported that the California Energy Commission has approved the town’s Green Energy Program for a low-interest Energy Efficiency Financing Program loan of $160,000.

The council unanimously approved conditional use and site development permits for the new town hall after agreeing to hold the town to the same standards for amplified noise as regular residents. The council also agreed to locate office trailers onsite during the construction of the new town hall, away from residences, and to remove them within 30 days of the final inspection of the new building.

Kerr said that negotiations with the Los Altos School District to rent space in Bullis-Purissima while the new town hall is being built are going well.

Construction is expected to take eight to 15 months.

Of utilities and drains

Dean Warshawsky reported that Godbe Research of Half Moon Bay is surveying 250 residents by telephone to learn whether they would be willing to pay for the undergrounding of utilities.

Reporting on the storm water master plan, Maureen Cassingham, city manager, said city staff will review 24 roadside locations identified by Nolte Consultants as needing storm drain improvements. The staff will determine priorities and make recommendations to the council.

New youth commissioner

The council unanimously appointed Wei Wei Liu the town’s youth commissioner and charged her with reviewing and reassessing the position’s responsibilities. The Community Relations Committee would like to increase the responsibility of the position and make the youth commissioner an associate member of the committee.